The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-21
pioneer explorer IN the arctic regions
In and about Smith sound, going there

pioneer explorer IN the arctic regions
In and about Smith sound, going there
in his own yacht year before the
American explorer DIR. Kane. On this
voyage he discovered and marked out
eight hundred miles Of new coast line.
After that he commanded two Arctic
expeditions for the British government
and for his services was knighted.
The admiral is to-day on his way to
Florida with party of friends from
England, where he has made large
purchase of land. A few hours previ.
Gus to his departure he was met at the
Fifth Avenue hotel by reporter, and
was asked his opinion on the subject OF
Arctic exploration.
Everything has been done that eau
be to reach the poles" he said. son
account of the vast masses of paleoclys-
tic ice it is impossible to get farther,
and il is necessary to carry provisions
not only for the journey north but also
for the return. The pole Is, after all,
only geographical curiosity, and it
would be no real benefit to humanity to
discover it, In Franklin's time the
sage. and over thirty expeditions were
sent in search of him or his remains.
In truth, these expeditions to the pole
are merely matters of rivalry, Even
scientific research fails to make it
sufficient induccment."
You have been in the Arctic regions
several times?"
"Yes. Nv first trip was in my steam
watch, u vessel OF l59 tons. The trip
was made in 1852. Lady Franklin gave
me the vessel, and | paid the expenses.
/ went up Smith sound, for Lady
Franklin had the idea that her husband
had attempted to find the northwest
passage by going in that direction. By
that voyage ] set ut rest the question OF
his ever having gone through there,
On that trip | went l20 miles further
north in Biflin's bay than anyone ever
went before, and il was then that dis
covered 800 miles of coast line. / was
Just four months to day on the cxpe-
dition. We could only steam at the
rate of three knots an hour, but we ac-
complishcd our purpose. The yatch was
afterward lost rounding Cape Horn.
Il
eminent expeditions, on one OF which
one of my ships-the storeship, OF
about 800 tons-was crushed by the ico
and went to the bottom in ten minutes
This was at Becchy island, where
Franklin had his first winter quarters.
| was in the ship just ahead ut the
time, which was towing the other one.
On that expedition ] went OUT with
three ships and returned with only one.
The ice which crushed the ship was
that which is moved by the sea; at one
time there will be open water, and
then the great masses will crush to-
gether with terrific force"
you must have seen some big ice
bergsP''
Il have, but the ice ! speak of is not
| such rs makes icebergs, though it ap
pears to be Il common idea that it Is.
1t is foe ice, made by the sea freezing
over, while icebergs are formed by the
fresh water. In one season the sea Will
freeze over 10 depth of eight or ten
feet, and each year it will increase
more or less in thickness. | have seen
this ice thirty to forty feet thick.
| nave OILtU StcH OHt nuuAltu iNNpNi =
floating away at the same time.
The glaciers push themselves, say, two
miles out into the sea, get outwclghed'
and, break of, having no longer tho
support of the bottom. have seen
them three miles long and 129 feet out
of water, and that would be only one
tenth of them. One Of my narrow es-
capes was on my third expedition, when
the false keel of my vessel was cut of
from stem to stern. Luckily we were
pushed up on the land so were saved
Just before that / had relieved d.
Belcher and his crews, who had desert
ed their four ships in the ice and were
coming home. ali crowded into one
vessel. That was in 1854"
"What do you think of Greedy"
''He had wonderful escape and Is
a man worthy to head such an enter
prise-a man of extraordinary resourc
es and great daring, and I'm afraid he
has not been so we'll rewarded as be